PAgirl89

Thanks! Just what I was looking for!

I'm looking to buy a machine to cut felt and cotton fabric in basic shapes, like a circle or square. Easy to use and not too expensive. Any recommendations? TIA

I'm sure I have over 250 fragrances too, and I'm looking for a good way to organize the bottles and store them. Right now I have them in those plastic drawer storage units and have them organized by company, but I'm looking for a better way to organize them. Suggestions on containers? shelves? And I need something that is easily accessible and easily added to if need be, cause I know with this addiction to FO, I will need more room to store more FO! Thanks!

I use saran wrap and clear cellophane sheets to wrap my soap, especially if I use herbs.

I am in northwestern Lehigh County, which is in the southeast corner of PA. I'm about an hour northwest of Philly. I did get more information. Apparently the fire company rents the tables for $20 each in lieu of a rental fee of the facility. The $20 per table goes back to the fire co. plus what the fire co. collects from the food sold at the kitchen. I would have to get at least $30 per table for me to cover expenses and my time. I have the option to make it a Saturday, however, personally I have every Saturday booked with a show. I would have to back out of one those craft shows to hold this one. I feel Saturdays are better than Sundays for craft shows, for some reason. I haven't heard from the previous promoters. I am in need of the mailing list of crafters so I can send out apps for this year's show, but after 6 weeks with no response, I'm having my doubts I will have much help from them. It's uber frustrating.

I have been asked to take over a local craft show. It's held at a local fire company, the 2nd Sunday of November. The show has had some great years with a great turnout, but the last few years have gone down hill, for crafters and for attendance of buyers. It's a strictly handmade craft show and I'd like to keep it that way. It's an established show, so the local area knows about the show and I would hate to see it go under because the previous promoters dropped it due to low attendance and low number of vendors. I'd like to see it thrive back to a great show with lots of crafters and a nice number of people coming to the show. My idea is to change it from a Sunday to a Saturday. I think attendance would be better for a Saturday show and crafters may be more inclined to sign up. Currently table fees are $20 per 8foot table, no extra charge for electric. I'm not sure a cheap table fee is gaining vendors, but last year's show had about 35 vendors. I'd like to bump that up to about 45 or 50. The fire company can hold that many if not more. And I will have use of 2 floors for crafters. The fire co. also has the kitchen open and serves a hot lunch, which is open to the public during show hours. The fire co. keeps the money they make from selling food. So I definitely want the kitchen to stay open, it brings in the local people and they end up shopping with the crafters. The advertising for the show is the fire co. marquee, their facebook page, and their website. Also it is advertised on the marquee in front of the township building, which sits on a major state highway. So a lot of local and not local traffic will see the advertising. It's also advertised in the local newspaper and at on line event lists like Eventlister and PAVendors. A lot of advertising does not necessarily bring in the people and if you can get them in, you can't always make them buy. But I want a nice flow of foot traffic and people the crafters can talk to, other than other vendors. So I was thinking of adding maybe a basket raffle of some kind. Maybe photos with Santa Claus or bring an unwrapped toy for a toy drive to help out the local area children. I think if the local people know the show benefits the local community, they are more inclined to come and patron the show. What else could I do to help this show gain crafters & attendance? Thoughts? Ideas or suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Your state's official website should have info on business licenses, taxes, permits ...etc. You can also check with your county & borough websites for more info on what they require for small business. As far as the labels go, I have a shop that I am on consignment with and they ask that I don't add any of my info on the labels and the other shops want to me add my info to labels. I have my business name, city & state and a phone number on the label. I'd add a website address on it too but the long URL doesn't fit on the labels I use. I always tell the owner what is on my labels so they know the product will contain my information. Good Luck!

I buy syringes and needles for dogs. You can get them from pet pharmacy type websites.

I've been working on these the last couple days. I have a show coming up on Sunday, 1st one of the new year. These bars are approx. 3.25 ounces each. Made with NG's goat's milk MP soap base and organic herbs & oatmeal.

PaperMart has seamless square and rectangle tins with lids w/o windows - http://www.papermart.com/seamless-square-tin-cans/id=20996#20996 - 2oz, 4oz, and 8oz.

My parents have their own business and have run & operated the business in the home for the last 50 years. It has taken over and they really don't get time for themselves, however, my dad's business is respected by the community and customers. He's made it a point to respect the customer and the customer is always right rule of thumb. The business is open 7 days a week, 9 to 5 during the winter months and 9 to 9 during the summer. Vacations are few & far between. As for my candle/soap business, I'm available anytime as I work from home and it is only me. I answer emails as soon as I receive them most of the time and return phone calls when I get them. I guess some of my dad's mind set rubbed off on me.

I'm looking for boxes for pillars and for votives. I need boxes to fit my 3x3.5 pillars and my 2x2x2 votives. Kraft, white or pattern print boxes. I'm in PA so I would prefer a company close to home, east cost preferred. TIA

I found this tutorial from Rustic Escentuals - http://library.rusticescentuals.com/imprint-soaps/

Beautiful soap! If I may ask how the mats are used? I make MP soap. I'm always looking for unique & creative ways for my soaps.

I get mine with rubber fitments. I order them from Candles & Supplies. http://www.candlesandsupplies.net/Metal-w-RING-Premium-RUST-Lid Those are rust lids but you can see the rubber fitment that comes with the lid. The black lids are hard to find so I switched to the rust lids. C&S don't carry the black lids I was looking for and neither do a lot of other suppliers.